Collapsible articles of furniture

Abstract

Collapsible articles of furniture comprise at least one leg assembly including a first leg and a second leg, each with an upper leg segment and a lower leg segment coupled together by a link. The two links are pivotally connected to each other for movement between an open position wherein the first and second legs cross each other to form a generally X-shaped configuration and a closed position wherein the upper and lower leg segments are aligned, the upper leg section of the first leg receivable within the lower leg section of the second leg and the upper leg section of the second leg is receivable within the lower leg section of the first leg.

1. A collapsible article of furniture comprising:
 at least one support assembly including axially elongate longitudinally extending first and second upper support segments and axially elongate longitudinally extending first and second lower support segments, and 
 a linkage having a first link coupling said first upper support segment to said first lower support segment and a second link coupling said second upper support segment to said second lower support segment, said first and second links being connected each to the other to move said segments between an open position wherein said respective first and second upper support segments and said respective first and second lower support segments are spaced apart to form a generally X-shaped configuration, and a closed position wherein said first and second upper support segments and said first and second lower support segments are generally parallelly aligned, 
 wherein said first and second upper support segments are mounted on said first and second links for longitudinal axial movement relative thereto, said first upper support segment being longitudinally axially aligned with and movable into said second lower support segment and said second upper support segment being longitudinally axially aligned with and movable into said first lower support segment when said support assembly is in said closed position. 
 
     
     
       2. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first and second links are pivotally connected for movement relative to each other. 
     
     
       3. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first and second lower support segments are respectively connected in fixed position to said first and second links. 
     
     
       4. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said support assembly includes means for preventing said upper support segments from entering said lower support segments until said upper and lower segments are in the closed position and longitudinally axially aligned with each other. 
     
     
       5. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said means for preventing comprises said first and second links. 
     
     
       6. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second upper support segments and the first and second lower support segments generally share a common plane. 
     
     
       7. A collapsible article of furniture comprising:
 at least one collapsible leg assembly including first and second collapsible legs, said first leg having a first upper leg segment and a first lower leg segment and said second leg having a second upper leg segment and a second lower leg segment, 
 a first link coupling said first upper leg segment to said first lower leg segment, and 
 a second link coupling said second upper leg segment to said second lower leg segment, 
 wherein said first and second links are pivotal relative to each other to move said legs to and from a closed position, said first upper leg segment of said first leg being mounted on said first link to telescope into said second lower leg segment of said second leg when said legs are in said closed position. 
 
     
     
       8. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said second upper leg segment of said second leg is mounted on said second link to telescope into said first lower leg segment of said first leg when said legs are in said closed position. 
     
     
       9. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 8  wherein each of said upper leg segments is movable relative to an associated link between an extended position wherein it projects in an upward direction from said link and a retracted position wherein it is partially telescopically received within an associated one of said lower leg segments. 
     
     
       10. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said leg assembly is in an open position when said upper leg segments are in said extended position and the legs cross each other presenting a generally X-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       11. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said leg assembly includes means for preventing said upper leg segments from telescoping into said lower leg segments until said leg assembly is in said closed position. 
     
     
       12. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said preventing means comprises means for positioning said upper leg segments in extended positions as said leg assembly moves into said open position. 
     
     
       13. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said preventing means comprises means for detaining said upper leg segments in said extended positions while said leg assembly remains in said open position. 
     
     
       14. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second collapsible legs generally share a common plane. 
     
     
       15. A collapsible article of furniture comprising:
 at least one leg assembly including:
 substantially identical generally longitudinally elongated first and second collapsible legs, said first leg having a first upper segment and a first lower segment, said second leg having a second upper segment and a second lower segment, and 
 a linkage including first and second links pivotally connected by a pivot pin for limited pivotal movement about a common central axis extending transversally of said linkage, said first lower segment and said first upper segment being coupled to each other by said first link to form said first leg, said second lower segment and said second upper segment being coupled to each other by said second link to form said second leg, said first and second lower segments being fixedly mounted on said first and second links, said first and second upper segments being movably mounted on said links, wherein said first and second links are transversally spaced from one another and define a gap therebetween, 
 said leg assembly having an extended position wherein said first and second upper segments extend upwardly from said first and second links and a closed position wherein said upper segments are in longitudinal axial parallel relation to each other and said lower segments of said first and second legs are in longitudinal axial parallel relation to each other, 
 said upper segment of said first leg being downwardly movable into said lower segment of said second leg and said upper segment of said second leg being downwardly movable into said lower segment of said first leg when said leg assembly is in said closed and extended positions, 
 said leg assembly being movable from said closed and extended positions to an open position wherein said first and second legs cross each other at said common axis and present a generally X-shaped configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said leg assembly includes means for preventing said upper leg segments from moving into said respective lower leg segments until said leg assembly is in said closed position. 
     
     
       17. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said preventing means comprises means for positioning said upper leg segments in said extended positions as said leg assembly moves into said open position. 
     
     
       18. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said preventing means comprises means for detaining said upper leg segments in said extended positions while said leg assembly remains in said open position. 
     
     
       19. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said preventing means comprises said first and second links. 
     
     
       20. The collapsible article of furniture as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second legs generally share a common plane.